Herts &amp; Beds

The annual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hvaf.org.uk/our-events/herts-open-studios/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Herts Open Studios</a>&nbsp;celebrates its 35th year with artists exhibiting in studios, workshops, galleries, shops and pop-ups all over the county. Download a brochure to see what’s on near you from exhibitions and demos to workshops. Until 28 September. <a href="https://everyonetheatres.com/whats-on/ben-elton/"></a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Scummy-Mummies-1000x667.jpg" alt="Scummy Mummies" class="wp-image-86062" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Scummy-Mummies-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Scummy-Mummies-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Scummy-Mummies.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Scummy Mummies</figcaption></figure>



On stage and internet sensation &#8211; thanks to their relatable and below-the-belt comedy &#8211; <a href="https://southmillarts.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873668228" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Scummy Mummies</a> are back in town to make you laugh so much that you spit out your G&amp;T. At South Mill Arts on&nbsp;26 Sept. 



Dust off the lederhosen and get your dose of thigh slapping and ale swigging action at <a href="https://www.hertsoktoberfest.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Herts Oktoberfest</a> which is coming to Hartham Common in Hertford on 3-5 Oct. There&#8217;ll be a live oompah band, axe throwing, karaoke, fancy dress, Bavarian food and XL beer steins. 



Poet, novelist and Fellow in Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes University, <a href="https://southernmaltings.co.uk/events/ware-poets-patience-agbabi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patience Agbabi</a> will be performing her work at the Southern Maltings, Ware on 10 Oct, 8-10pm. The first half of the evening is open-mic so you can read your own work to the audience in this friendly, open space. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Lennon1-1000x667.jpg" alt="Imagine Lennon" class="wp-image-92268" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Lennon1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Lennon1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Lennon1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Step into the world of John Lennon with internationally acclaimed musician Tyson Kelly as he takes to the stage at the Eric Morecambe Centre for <a href="https://everyonetheatres.com/whats-on/imagine-lennon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Imagine Lennon</a> on Oct 16. Kelly, who played John Lennon on Broadway, will perform hits from The Beatles&#8217; catalogue backed by a five-piece band. 



John Michael Wright’s 17th-century portrait of <a href="https://hatfield-house.co.uk/event/john-michael-wright-conservation-and-context/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Cecil, 4th Earl of Salisbury, and his sister Catherine </a>returns to Hatfield House following recent conservation work. The evening event features a panel of experts who will explore Wright’s work and the wider context of 17th century British culture on Oct 17.



Five kick ass comics take to the stage at Watford Palace Theatre for one night only as part of the Women in Comedy Festival &#8211; <a href="https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/ladies-of-laughter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ladies of Laughter</a> on Oct 17. 



<a href="https://www.thespotlightvenue.com/whats-on/the-phantoms-starring-lee-mead/294" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Phantoms</a>&nbsp;starring West End star Lee Mead, is a fabulous mash up of all your favourite musicals from Miss Saigon and Les Misérables through to Joseph and, of course, The Phantom of the Opera. At The Spotlight, Hoddesdon on Oct 23.



Want to know Monet&#8217;s favourite colour or why Courbet never painted an angel? Comedian and art historian, Verity Babbs, answers these important questions and more in just one digestible sentence at <a href="https://southmillarts.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873675418" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The History of Art in One Sentence</a>. Expect art wisdom with laughs (and a glass in hand). At South Mill Arts on Oct 25. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/In-Safe-Hands-by-Aislinn-Finnegan-for-St-Albansmuseum-1000x1000.jpg" alt="In Safe Hands by Aislinn Finnegan" class="wp-image-92275" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/In-Safe-Hands-by-Aislinn-Finnegan-for-St-Albansmuseum-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/In-Safe-Hands-by-Aislinn-Finnegan-for-St-Albansmuseum-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/In-Safe-Hands-by-Aislinn-Finnegan-for-St-Albansmuseum-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/In-Safe-Hands-by-Aislinn-Finnegan-for-St-Albansmuseum-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/In-Safe-Hands-by-Aislinn-Finnegan-for-St-Albansmuseum-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/In-Safe-Hands-by-Aislinn-Finnegan-for-St-Albansmuseum.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In Safe Hands by Aislinn Finnegan</figcaption></figure>



<a href="https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/our-stories-tracing-black-histories-hertfordshire" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Our Stories;&nbsp;Tracing Black Histories in Hertfordshire</a>&nbsp;is a free exhibition featuring artworks and an imaginative life-size zine installation to mark Black History Month. At St Albans Museum + Gallery from Oct 2 &#8211; Nov 2.



The annual <a href="https://www.tringbookfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tring Book Festival </a>runs for 2 weeks in November (dates TBC) and always draws a really impressive author lineup and this year is no exception, with Matt Lucas, David Walliams and Alexander Armstrong among those gracing the programme of talks, meets and signings at local venues. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/PoppyFields-1000x667.jpg" alt="Poppy Fields by Luxmuralis" class="wp-image-92278" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/PoppyFields-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/PoppyFields-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/PoppyFields.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<a href="https://www.stalbanscathedral.org/Event/poppy-fields" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Poppy Fields</a>, a moving light show featuring installations and projections reflecting on war and the hope for peace will be illuminating the spaces at St Albans Cathedral from Oct 28 &#8211; Nov 1.



<a href="https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/generations">Generations</a>&nbsp;is at St Albans Museum + Gallery until&nbsp;16 November. Through personal collections, photographs and creative storytelling, it explores what it means to be South Asian in St Albans.



Too early to be talking about the festive season? Well, not if you want to nab tickets to the magical stage adaptation of the film classic <a href="https://www.abbeytheatre.org.uk/whats-on/its-a-wonderful-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">It&#8217;s a Wonderful Life</a> produced by Company of Ten. At Abbey Theatre, St Albans from Nov 14-22.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/SwanLakeImperialClassicBallet-1000x667.jpg" alt="Imperial Classic Ballet Swan Lake" class="wp-image-92387" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/SwanLakeImperialClassicBallet-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/SwanLakeImperialClassicBallet-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/SwanLakeImperialClassicBallet.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Swan Lake is calling at <a href="https://everyonetheatres.com/whats-on/swan-lake-performed-by-the-imperial-ballet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Alban Arena</a> on Nov 20 and the <a href="https://www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk/events/crown-ballet-swan-lake/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bedford Corn Exchange</a> on Nov 27. 



And ballet isn&#8217;t just for grown ups &#8211; nurture little ones&#8217; appreciation of dance early with this production of <a href="https://www.radlettcentre.co.uk/What-s-On/Children/Hansel-Gretel-Ballet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hansel &amp; Gretel</a> by Let’s All Dance. It’s calling at The Radlett Centre on 28 Sept.



IN THE MOOD FOR MORE:



<a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/september-whats-on-hertfordshire-bedfordshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Super September: your guide to the month!</a>



<a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/tom-wlaschiha-interview-national-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">From&nbsp;Game of Thrones&nbsp;to the National: Tom Wlaschiha takes the stage</a>



<a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/arts-culture/my-cultural-kicks-beam-theatre-director-steve-sargeant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My cultural kicks: BEAM Theatre Director, Steve Sargeant</a>

Hey, culture vulture! Hot local tickets to book for Autumn

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